Alex Wilding

And there are tertons, both real and fake, who drink sometimes heavily. This means that a terton must have something special about them. Tibetans are not naïve. about the possibility of fake turtans. So, when it is announced that a terma is to be found, for instance high up on a cliff, a big crowd may gather, ready to be amazed and inspired, but also ready to have a laugh in the event of failure.

And there are tertons, both real and fake, who drink sometimes heavily. This means that a terton must have something special about them. Tibetans are not naïve. about the possibility of fake turtans. So, when it is announced that a terma is to be found, for instance high up on a cliff, a big crowd may gather, ready to be amazed and inspired, but also ready to have a laugh in the event of failure.

I remember a story told by Ringu Tulku, one time when he was teaching at Dzogchenbera in South West Ireland. Etulcu had apparently come to town and announced that he was going to discover a Terma treasure. I can well imagine that some of the people would have made offerings of one sort or another on that basis, but the townsfolk were a bit suspicious and kept an eye open.

I remember a story told by Ringu Tulku, one time when he was teaching at Dzogchenbera in South West Ireland. Etulcu had apparently come to town and announced that he was going to discover a Terma treasure. I can well imagine that some of the people would have made offerings of one sort or another on that basis, but the townsfolk were a bit suspicious and kept an eye open.

He was observed going to a site outside the town with a spade and burying something under a stone. You can probably guess what happened. Some of our townsfolk waited until nightfall, went to the site, dug up the attractive gilded Buddha statue, surprise, surprise, and replaced it with poop.

He was observed going to a site outside the town with a spade and burying something under a stone. You can probably guess what happened. Some of our townsfolk waited until nightfall, went to the site, dug up the attractive gilded Buddha statue, surprise, surprise, and replaced it with poop.

When the day to discover the treasure came, the would-be terton was of course disgraced and presumably not seen in that area ever again. Now, there is an argument that, in principle, the discovery of tamas hidden in the natural surroundings is nothing new to Buddhism.

When the day to discover the treasure came, the would-be terton was of course disgraced and presumably not seen in that area ever again. Now, there is an argument that, in principle, the discovery of tamas hidden in the natural surroundings is nothing new to Buddhism.

Nagarjuna is said to have recovered the much venerated perfection of wisdom sutras from the lake where they had been guarded for centuries by Nagas. In case you wonder, and to put it very simply, Nagas are a class of water spirit. In spite of this argument, there are many Tibetan Buddhists who do not recognise the validity of termas at all.

Nagarjuna is said to have recovered the much venerated perfection of wisdom sutras from the lake where they had been guarded for centuries by Nagas. In case you wonder, and to put it very simply, Nagas are a class of water spirit. In spite of this argument, there are many Tibetan Buddhists who do not recognise the validity of termas at all.

The whole of Tibetan Buddhism is usually roughly divided into four schools. The name of the Nyingma school refers to the old translations, and is the school with which termas and tertons are associated. The other three, that is the Gelug, Khaju and Sakya schools, base themselves on the new translations and place more emphasis on celibate monasticism.

The whole of Tibetan Buddhism is usually roughly divided into four schools. The name of the Nyingma school refers to the old translations, and is the school with which termas and tertons are associated. The other three, that is the Gelug, Khaju and Sakya schools, base themselves on the new translations and place more emphasis on celibate monasticism.

Generally speaking, they require the texts that they are using, whether sutras or tantras, to have a clear traceability back to India. Although the Kaju in particular have admitted quite a number of terma texts into their regular practice and liturgy. These policies requiring Indian roots have their origins in politics as well as in spirituality. And that is a fascinating subject in itself,

Generally speaking, they require the texts that they are using, whether sutras or tantras, to have a clear traceability back to India. Although the Kaju in particular have admitted quite a number of terma texts into their regular practice and liturgy. These policies requiring Indian roots have their origins in politics as well as in spirituality. And that is a fascinating subject in itself,

outside the scope of this podcast. The new translation schools, emphasizing the celibate Sangha as they do, have perhaps a greater tendency to be centered on large institutions and on the performance of extensive and complex rituals.

outside the scope of this podcast. The new translation schools, emphasizing the celibate Sangha as they do, have perhaps a greater tendency to be centered on large institutions and on the performance of extensive and complex rituals.

The new translation schools do have plenty of lay supporters providing donations and offerings to the monasteries for the various benefits, both worldly and spiritual, that they do generate. Paradoxically, the old translation schools, the Nyingma,

The new translation schools do have plenty of lay supporters providing donations and offerings to the monasteries for the various benefits, both worldly and spiritual, that they do generate. Paradoxically, the old translation schools, the Nyingma,

while it does have its own place for big institutions and extensive ceremonies extending over days or even weeks, does have more room for newer practices, as found in the termas. Even though those termas are notionally old, they were also, again notionally, composed for more modern circumstances.

while it does have its own place for big institutions and extensive ceremonies extending over days or even weeks, does have more room for newer practices, as found in the termas. Even though those termas are notionally old, they were also, again notionally, composed for more modern circumstances.